Premier Antonis Samaras says Greece can be China's gateway to Europe

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras yesterday touted his troubled but improving economy as an attractive entry point for Chinese investment into the European Union.

"Greece can become a real gateway for investment and trade flows between China and Europe," Samaras told a Greek-Chinese business forum, according to a copy of his speech text.

Samaras is visiting China in a bid to strengthen economic ties. He met President Xi Jinping yesterday after holding talks with Premier Li Keqiang a day earlier.

Samaras acknowledged that Greece was in recession but said the country had overcome excessive debt and low competitiveness. "We achieved fiscal consolidation and we have moved forward with structural reforms that are changing, totally changing our economy," he said.

Samaras added that a full recapitalisation of the country's banking system was on the verge of completion.

He said "currency risk scenarios" - an apparent reference to the possibility of giving up the euro - "are now dead" and that investors can rest assured.

"Greece is anchored in the euro zone," he said. "This is now unquestionable."